The biggest royal events in 2025
Put these dates in your diary
Happy New Year! We hope you had a restful break. To kick-start 2025, we’ve brought you a round-up of the biggest royal events of the year, to add to your diary.
January
East Wing of Buckingham Palace opens
The East Wing of Buckingham Palace opened for tours last year and this year, there’s an expanded opening time, with special tours taking place from now until May, then again during July and August. Visit rct.uk
March
Dress Codes exhibition launches at Kensington Palace
We love KP’s fashion exhibitions and this year’s is a good one - with royal clothing worn by Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess Margaret and Queen Victoria. From March to November, visit hrp.org.uk
Balmoral opens
Like Buckingham Palace, last year, Balmoral Castle opened more areas and will do so again, from March to August. Visit balmoralcastle.com
St James’s Palace opens
On select weekends during spring, St James’s Palace will open to the public, who can tour the Throne Room and Chapel Royal, where Queen Victoria was married and Princes George and Louis were christened. For dates, visit rct.uk
April
Charles and Camilla’s 20th wedding anniversary
On April 9, the King and Queen celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. How about a garden tour of Highgrove, to mark the occasion? Visit highgrovegardens.com
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance exhibition opens at The King’s Gallery
This summer’s exhibition at The King’s Gallery, is The Edwardians: Age of Elegance, from April to November. It covers the flamboyant Edwardian period and the lives of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and George V and Queen Mary. Visit rct.uk
May
Princess Charlotte turns 10
There’s a big birthday this month, as Princess Charlotte turns 10 on May 2.
VE Day 80
May 8 marks 80 years since Victory in Europe Day and there will be special events all over the UK, attended by the Royal Family. Look out for details, at veday80.org.uk
June
Trooping the Colour
Ever fancied watching the parade celebrating the King’s official birthday, on June 14? Sign up for ballot tickets in March, at kbp.army.mod.uk
August
Princess Anne turns 75
We are sending birthday wishes to our other favourite royal lady, Princess Anne, who turns 75 on August 15.
December
Happy 18th, James
Finally, Edward and Sophie’s son, James, Earl of Wessex, turns 18 on December 17.
Meghan launches her cookery show
Like her estranged royal relatives, it looks like Meghan also has a busy year ahead. And here’s another date for your 2025 diary - Wednesday January 15 - when ‘With Love, Meghan’ her long-awaited cookery/lifestyle show launches on Netflix. The Duchess is also back on social media after years offline.
Obviously, whatever Meghan does polarises opinion with the critics wasting no time tearing into her brand reinvention as a ‘Hollywood trad wife’, whether that’s sprinkling edible flowers on doughnuts or declaring: “We’re not in the pursuit of perfection – we’re in the pursuit of joy.” In fact, it seems the Duchess is on a mission, promising to “create wonder in every moment”.
Netflix said: “Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection, and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected. She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.”
We’re keeping our (baking) powder dry until we’ve watched the eight-part series. In the meantime, we wish Meghan all the best, as this - her first solo project for Netflix - has a lot riding on it. The heat, as they say, is on…
Zara and Mike Down Under
The lucky Tindalls have escaped the Big Freeze here in the UK as they’re currently enjoying their annual working holiday on Australia’s Gold Coast.
The couple arrived last week for ten days of celebrating all things equine at the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping event, where Zara will saddle up for celeb polo matches and horse races, while Mike shares his “insightful and humorous commentary” from the sidelines. Since 2012, Zara has been a patron of Magic Millions, which is a thoroughbred auction house famous for its ten-day carnival and race days every January.
Maybe they’ll also get some intel on Harry and Meghan, as the Duke and Duchess’ BFFs Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina Blaquier, are also ambassadors of the event and were seen cosying up to the Tindalls.
Have you listened to our podcast yet?
Find out the truth about poor Prince John on our podcast, Secrets of the Royals. Check out episode three all about the sorry tale of this young prince who died, aged 13, on January 18, 1919. He was the younger brother to Edward VIII and George VI, and passed away at Sandringham. Much was made of his family’s “cruelty” – but how much of that narrative is true? Kerry took a deep-dive into this story, so please give it a listen or watch, here on Substack, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
Read more from The Royal List writers
Finally, we - Maria and Kerry - love researching and writing royal features for top-selling brands, which is why we are thrilled to have several articles in the latest issue of WOMAN Royal Special. On sale now in all good UK supermarkets and newsagents, or order a copy here. And, huzzah, there’s more to come in 2025!